Meditation in Southeast Asia - Insight Meditation Center
Meditation in Southeast Asia - Insight Meditation Center
Meditation in Southeast Asia - Insight Meditation Center
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elements and the 32 parts of the body, spread<strong>in</strong>g metta, and develop<strong>in</strong>g samadhi<br />
us<strong>in</strong>g the repetition "Buddho" with the breath. In private <strong>in</strong>terviews, usually after the<br />
meal or late <strong>in</strong> the even<strong>in</strong>g at the office-kuti, one can go <strong>in</strong>to more detail and ask<br />
questions about one's practice (Western monks can usually translate). Ajahn Anan<br />
also has a reputation for his familiarity with heightened levels of meditative<br />
consciousness, and for his open-m<strong>in</strong>ded approach to other traditions.<br />
Costs: Guests can give a donation.<br />
Lodg<strong>in</strong>g: Male guests sleep <strong>in</strong> a dormitory below the eat<strong>in</strong>g hall. There is a separate<br />
section for women with nice kutis. Electricity, runn<strong>in</strong>g water, and showers are<br />
available. Men can usually be accomodated at short notice, but women should make<br />
prior arrangement to make sure there is enough space. Sometimes large groups<br />
come and stay <strong>in</strong> the monastery for a few days to practise meditation. One Thai<br />
woman is always resident and helps look after the kitchen. She also speaks English.<br />
In the past, brown-robed nuns from Amaravati stayed for longer periods of time, but<br />
that's not possible anymore, now they can only stay for a couple of weeks. Whiterobed<br />
mae chees don't normally live here.<br />
What to br<strong>in</strong>g: Flashlight with batteries, alarm clock, <strong>in</strong>sect repellant, white clothes.<br />
There is no public phone. One can buy th<strong>in</strong>gs conveniently <strong>in</strong> Bahn Phe (it is possible<br />
to get a ride from the monastery).<br />
Food: Very good quality and quantity (especially on weekends). What is brought<br />
back from almsround by the monks (some go to Bahn Phe every day <strong>in</strong> a van) is<br />
shared, and then some food is also cooked <strong>in</strong> the kitchen. It is possible to eat only<br />
vegetarian food. In the late afternoon there are dr<strong>in</strong>ks and sweets available for<br />
everybody. Dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g water is provided, and general hygiene is comparable to the<br />
West.<br />
Rules: All guests should keep the 8 precepts, and apart from the meal and dr<strong>in</strong>ks,<br />
they can jo<strong>in</strong> the morn<strong>in</strong>g and even<strong>in</strong>g chant<strong>in</strong>g followed by meditation. Men and<br />
women live <strong>in</strong> separate quarters, there is not much opportunity for meet<strong>in</strong>g. Women<br />
might be expected to help <strong>in</strong> the kitchen <strong>in</strong> the morn<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />
Daily schedule: Morn<strong>in</strong>g meditation at 4 a.m. (optional) followed by chant<strong>in</strong>g, sett<strong>in</strong>g<br />
up the Sala for the meal, then the monks leave for p<strong>in</strong>dapat (almsround) around 5:15<br />
a.m. Guests help with sweep<strong>in</strong>g around the Sala, and the monks jo<strong>in</strong> them after they<br />
return, wait<strong>in</strong>g for the food to be prepared. The meal is usually eaten between 8 and<br />
9 a.m. One can go back to one's dwell<strong>in</strong>g after that and meet aga<strong>in</strong> for afternoon<br />
chores (sweep<strong>in</strong>g, clean<strong>in</strong>g) around 2 p.m. Dr<strong>in</strong>ks are taken at 5 p.m., which is the<br />
ma<strong>in</strong> social event of the day. The even<strong>in</strong>g chant<strong>in</strong>g and meditation beg<strong>in</strong>s around 8<br />
p.m. and can sometimes be followed by listen<strong>in</strong>g to a taped talk of Ajahn Chah.<br />
(They are fond of play<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>spir<strong>in</strong>g Dhamma CDs -- even <strong>in</strong> the morn<strong>in</strong>g and before<br />
the meal.) Then Ajahn Anan will often <strong>in</strong>vite people to his office-kuti for a late-night<br />
dr<strong>in</strong>k, which can go on until 11 p.m. Generally speak<strong>in</strong>g the rout<strong>in</strong>e is quite relaxed<br />
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